December 14, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement today after voting against both Balanced Budget Amendment proposals:

“The radical Republican amendment would insert in our nation’s most sacred document a political gimmick that threatens Social Security, risks default, and bows to Grover Norquist by locking in constitutional protections for every single special interest tax loophole.  That’s not just foolish, it’s extreme.

“History has shown that Congress can balance the budget without tampering with our Constitution. We did it in the 1990s, and we can do it again. A Balanced Budget Amendment would not really balance the budget. Republicans just are using it as an excuse to avoid taking responsibility for the hard choices we have to make as legislators.”